Seven North West households, including one in central Liverpool, have been selected as part of a £17 million government pilot scheme to make the UK's homes energy efficient and eco-friendly.
The "Retrofit for the Future" programme was announced by Science Minister Lord Drayson and Housing Minister John Healey, and will see 87 homes nationwide retrofitted with new, innovative technologies, as a demonstration of how current housing could be made more energy efficient.
The programme serves as an early step towards meeting the government's target of an 80% CO2 reduction by 2050. The results of the projects will be shared to help show how the UK’s current housing stock could be made more energy efficient.
David Bott, of the Technology Strategy Board behind the scheme said:
“At least 60% of the houses we’ll be living in by 2050 have already been built. So it is critical that we look at ways to dramatically improve the performance of our existing housing stock.
"Retrofit for the Future provides the testbeds we need to ensure the development of long term, mass solutions."
In Liverpool, the trial will see a city-centre Victorian end-terraced property redeveloped into an ultra-modern "green" home.
Key features of the retrofit plan are:
- The use of super-insulation panels
- Installation of triple-glazed windows to achieve the highest levels of heat retention.
- Construction of a new conservatory to the rear of the property where the air will be pre-heated by the sun and then transferred into the house through a mechanical ventilation unit.
- Solar panels on the south facing roof will generate energy for water heating.
- Low energy lighting will be provided throughout the home.
- Energy efficient appliances and cooker will be installed.
- Rainwater will be collected with water butts and recycled.
Developers Plus Dane are currently seeking to identify a family who will live in the property once it is complete, and the future tenants will be included within the project team as the refurbishment work proceeds.
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